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Quick and Dirty Wire Repairs

Introduction: Quick and Dirty Wire Repairs

Panic! The GFI outlet on my patio failed... The apartment complex will fix it for free in a few days but in the meantime I have my air pump plugged into an outlet inside my home and going through the sliding door space to my hydroponic garden: https://www.instructables.com/id/EQBFMQANUAERV7BV0D/ .

By freak (and by freak I mean screw up), I closed the door too hard and it severed/shorted the wiring on my pump. The breaker tripped but the cord was damaged. I used this opportunity to extend the cable and add a switch (so I wouldn't have to buy an extension cable when I relocate my pump closer to the garden).

This is my quick and dirty -- but effective - wiring repair... Saved me $12 (pump=$15) - well $22 if you count the extension cable :P

Step 1: Getting Started

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Go ahead and cut the bad wiring off - then cut the female portion of the extension cord off.

Step 2: Strip and Solder

Strip a section of wiring... If whatever you're repairing has a ribbed side and a smooth side - be sure to match each side of the wire to its counterpart. This is how polarity is handled in the ac electrician world :P

Glob on a bit of solder. If you have heat shrink (and I do not), don't forget to throw some on first. Otherwise, solder away - I know messy, but this is a hack - not something to be nice.

Step 3: Enter the Dirty

I was caught off guard... No electrical tape... no Duct Tape!!!

Solution, extra liquid gasket material. This is a fast setting stuff that dries pretty hard. Goop on and let it cure....

hehe, yeah I will - next time I get to the surplus store :D
I should have mentioned that you should not cut the wires straight across... If you stagger each wire so that the solder joints are not next to each other -- you run less of a risk of shorting....

It also allows you to add a wire tie between your joints for strain relief prior to insulating. (Not there there should ever be a lot of tensile load on your wires, but with extension cords and stuff, there often is some, and this offers a bit of extra durability)